Govt through
the tourism ministry and Uganda development bank is drafting a policy geared
towards giving out soft loans to Ugandans to invest more in the tourism sector
with low interest rates.
Speaking to
the junior tourism minister, Gedfrey
Kiwanda Suubi on the growing numbers of foreigners investing in the tourism
sector, the minister was fast to reveal that the loans will soon be dished out
to those willing to take them.
Kiwanda adds that this will come into play
after cabinet and parliament approves the plan which the ministry has
developed.
He further
notes that its fine for foreigners to grow the sector since they are providing
jobs to Ugandans and this solves the growing unemployment problem.
Kiwanda further challenges Ugandans to
change their attitude towards work as this will make them competitive and
better workers.
Uganda as a country
boosts of a number of tourism sites ranging from game parks, zoo, museum, fresh
water lakes and rivers, springs, forests, mountains among other features which
keep pulling foreign tourists to the country.
According to official
figures, tourism contributed
up to US$1.35 billion into Uganda’s export basket
in 2016, and was the single highest foreign exchange earner; contributing 23.5%
of total exports with
END